We conclude that no differences exist between the
type
materials of
O. terranovae
and
O. stepanjantsae
, and maintain that there is no justification for recognizing them as distinct species. We are here considering
O. stepanjantsae
a junior synonym of
O. terranovae
. See
Miranda
et al.
(2016)
for a discussion about the correct authorship for
O. stepanjantsae
.
Even though the gonothecae in the
type
material of
O. terranovae
are immature [see fig. 1h in Peña Cantero & Vervoort (1996)], mature gonothecae have been described in material identified as
O. stepanjantsae
[see for example, fig. 11G
–
H in Peña Cantero
et al
. (1997)].
Distribution.
Circum-Antarctic.
Oswaldella terranovae
had only been reported off Cape Adare (Totton 1930; Peña Cantero & Vervoort 1996), but
O. stepanjantsae
has been considered to have a circum-Antarctic distribution (Peña Cantero & Vervoort 1998).